Rappel Zig Zag Canyon on a private, moderate Moab canyoneering tour
5 - 7 hours
Guide, harness, helmet
Explore Zig Zag Canyon with a private guide as you hike a winding 3-mile loop through sandstone fins and finish with a 220-foot rappel. Expect moderate physical effort, including a steep gully approach and three total rappels.
Suggested minimum age is 11 (exceptions are sometimes made). Closed-toe hiking shoes are recommended, and feet may get wet depending on recent rains.
Less than 10: Full refund if you cancel before 2 weeks; within 2 weeks but outside 48 hours, charged a $20/person deposit; within 48 hours, no refund. 10+: 10% deposit required and non-refundable unless guides cancel due to weather; balance due within 48 hours. Full refund if guide cancels due to weather.
Each person in your group needs to sign an Acknowledgement of Risk form when you arrive at the shop.
Wear closed-toe hiking shoes and hiking clothes appropriate for the weather. Bring water in bottles (at least 2 liters per person, more in summer), snacks and/or lunch, and a backpack to carry your own water, food, and a harness/helmet/glove setup. Bring a hair tie if you have long hair. Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a camera are optional.
You may get your feet wet, depending on recent rains.
16 South 100 East Moab, Utah 84532
Jake, Kai, Joe, Eliza, Skyeler, and the rest of the crew have built something genuinely special in Moab. Reviewers consistently rave about the depth of knowledge their guides bring, whether it's geology, local wildlife, or plant life, with many noting it transformed a fun outing into a real learning experience. The booking process gets just as much praise as the trips themselves, with Kai in particular highlighted for taking time to understand what guests are actually looking for and matching them to the right adventure. The range of experiences on offer is broad, from multi-day hiking itineraries across Arches and Canyonlands to canyoneering routes with 200-foot rappels that you simply couldn't find on your own. Families with kids, school groups, and solo adventurers all show up in these reviews, and the guides seem genuinely skilled at calibrating the experience to the group. One Seattle school has been returning every year for six years, which says a lot about consistency. Safety protocols are mentioned frequently and always in a reassuring, confidence-building way rather than feeling restrictive. It's hard to find a single complaint across the board, and that kind of sustained reputation in a competitive outdoor guiding market is worth paying attention to.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed 4 full days of guided hiking with Desert Highlights. I called Kai prior to booking and she listened carefully as I explained our past hiking experience and what we were looking to accomplish. We spent one day in Arches, one day in the Canyonlands Island in the Sky, one day in the Canyonland Needles and one day in Bureau of Land Management. The hikes were exactly what we were looking for in terms of length and distance. Our guide Eliza was very professional, knowledgeable and fun! We were very happy that we used Kai's recommendations for lodging and restaurants. We will recommend Desert Highlights to our friends.
Jack Berger
April 29, 2026
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed 4 full days of guided hiking with Desert Highlights. I called Kai prior to booking and she listened carefully as I explained our past hiking experience and what we were looking to accomplish. We spent one day in Arches, one day in the Canyonlands Island in the Sky, one day in the Canyonland Needles and one day in Bureau of Land Management. The hikes were exactly what we were looking for in terms of length and distance. Our guide Eliza was very professional, knowledgeable and fun! We were very happy that we used Kai's recommendations for lodging and restaurants. We will recommend Desert Highlights to our friends.
Jack Berger
April 29, 2026